Frank and Maggie have been happily married for 40 years, so why haven’t they spoken for the last 6 months? We find out why as Frank sits beside Maggie’s hospital bed and finally begins to talk. Later on there’s Maggie’s version of events. I thoroughly enjoyed this and it was very easy to get into. Poor, ungainly, ill at ease Frank and Maggie, the livelier of the pair with their share of happiness and sadness and how they dealt with everything thrown at them. They were human and you could definitely feel for them with their dilemmas. Don’t know how they managed so much silence though - don’t think I’d last 6 hours, let alone 6 months!

Novels about marital relationships don’t usually excite me much but the premise of The Silent Treatment was intriguing.

Frank and Maggie have been married for more than 40 years. But for the last six months, Frank has not uttered a single word to his wife. They’ve shared the same house, and even the same bed, and eaten meals together. But all without speaking.

What triggered this silent treatment? An argument (must have been one hell of a row to still be festering after six months) ? A medical condition rendering incapable of speech?

It takes almost the whole of the novel for us to discover the reason in this accomplished debut by Abbie Greaves.

A Marriage In Retrospect
But first we learn about the history of their marriage, its delights and its sorrows.

Frank goes first, reminiscing about the heady, ecstatic days of their early life together. He’d always been a bit of a loner, never much of a hit with girls, but as soon as he saw Maggie, he knew she was the girl of his dreams. Unbelievably (to him) his feelings were reciprocated.

The one blot on their marriage is that the child Maggie longs for, never materialises. They learn to live with the loss and Maggie’s bouts of depression. But then completely out of the blue, she is pregnant, and their life is made complete by a daughter who is bright, intelligent and a joy. Until she hits her teenage years that is, and goes completely off the rails, causing untold pain and anguish for her parents.

Confession Propelled by Tragedy
We learn this only because out of necessity Frank has started to talk to Maggie. There’s still no conversation. There can’t be because Maggie is in a coma, the result of an overdose of sleeping pills. Frank found her collapsed unconscious at the kitchen table.

Terrified that she may die before he has a chance to explain his silence, he knows he has to explain his silence. He’s always been a quiet man, one who finds it difficult to express his emotions. “Talking has never been my strong point, “he admits.

His task now involves such a painful confession he can get there only in small stages, starting right at the beginning. He’d been on the point of revealing everything to Maggie once before when his guilt was “so pure, so overwhelming”. But he chickened out when he saw her, a shadow of her former self and knew he couldn’t do cause her any more harm.

"I opened my mouth a million times and God knows you must have noticed. I thought maybe once the shock had worn off it would be easier. But that never happened. It just got harder and harder… I told myself I had time to find the right way to say it. I wanted a way to tell you the truth without risking you leaving me…"

Time Running Out
But now that time is rapidly eroding. Two hours before the doctors will decide they can do no more for his wife. Will he make it before it’s too late?

Abbie Greaves keeps up the suspense throughout the whole of Frank’s narratives, with plenty of hints to keep us guessing. To delay the resolution still further, she switches to Maggie’s perspective, told through a series of notes she’s left for her husband to read after her death.

It’s through Maggie’s version of events over the last six months, that we can fully appreciate Frank was not the only partner who had left things unsaid.

As a deeply intimate but also realistic portrait of a relationship, The Silent Treatment is a success. At times delightful, it’s also heartbreakingly sad as it shows the utter devotion of a couple crack under the strain of a wayward child.

The suspense element didn’t work as well for me. I found Frank’s anguished comments hinting at the catastrophic nature of his revelation, set up a huge expectation in my mind. The disclosure of the secret was ultimately a disappointment. I remember reading it and thinking: Is that all? If there hadn’t been such a build up I would have accepted the ending far more readily.

Despite that I still enjoyed the novel’s exploration of love, loss, grief and guilt. It will be interesting to see her next novel.

This book was so much more than I expected. Heart-breaking in so many ways, I consumed every page and stayed up until the small hours to complete it.

The book begins with Maggie taking an overdose. Her husband Frank finds her, and as she lies in an induced come, he takes up residence in the hospital and spends hours telling their story, and confessing to her everything he wishes he had said. He is haunted by something and needs to confess it to her. He had tried to tell her before her overdose, but was so afraid of losing her that every time he tried to speak, he would choke on his words, and ended up becoming silent for the last six months.

He recounts their love story, how she was his Forever Girl. The helplessness he felt when Maggie was heartbroken, month after month, when she failed to become pregnant. The guilt over being happy just the two of them.

And then, after fifteen years together, their surprise baby is born. Eleanor. Their world, their joy, their everything. But as she becomes a teenager, their world falls apart, as they watch Eleanor drift away from them, and into a life of grief and addiction. They are helpless. Just as Frank is about to confess his deepest secret, Maggie shows signs of waking and he is sent away. On returning home he finds letters that Maggie has written to him over the last week. These detail her version of their story, the lies she has told , the secrets she has kept. Also wracked with guilt and afraid of losing him, she writes her confession before taking sleeping pills.

As Frank rushes back to the hospital he finally speaks to Maggie and they are united by finally revealing their truths to one another. Despite the saddest of circumstances, they find their way back to one another, and whilst they will always have a part of them missing, they learn how to live on together, in love.

This is a slow burner of a book and one that examines love, relationships and the ties that bind us together. It’s heartfelt and beautifully written as Frank pieces together his life with Maggie from her hospital bedside. Six months ago something happened that changed the fabric of their lives together forever and since then Frank hasn’t spoken a word to Maggie. His silence has build and grown, gnawing at their relationship and what remains of their stability until Maggie takes the ultimate action of overdosing on her sleeping pills. Now Frank has to find his voice and bring his wife of forty years back from the brink, in the process exposing the secret that has threatened to overwhelm him.

I found myself drawn into this quiet narrative, living beside Frank and Maggie as their relationship blossoms and grows, their lives intertwining and merging. Both characters come to life as they struggle with infertility, depression and then with the joys and tribulations of bringing a child up in a house of love and safety. The novel weaves its way through the different stages and facets of their relationship as Frank slowly brings himself to the events of the last six months. His love for Maggie is clear on every page, despite the very real hurt his silence has wrought. To begin with, all you see is Frank’s side of events which made Maggie somewhat less accessible, but when Frank finds his wife’s notebook, you get a glimpse into both sides of the relationship and the events that drew them to this point. This was cleverly done, as it brought both characters to life and gave me far more insight into Maggie’s personality and behaviour.

I will say that I saw the twist of sorts coming long before the actual reveal, but this didn’t spoil the book for me at all. Of anything, the only reason I have taken a star away is because the events seemed somewhat sanitised, so whereas you got the full force of emotions in the earlier novel, there was a soft coating over the spiralling decline. Their daughter clearly has some major issues and I’d have liked to see more of this, rather than standing on the outside with the parents, only getting fragmentary glimpses. That said, I was honestly touched by the events of the novel and empathised with all of the characters to one degree or another. As the novel is very much focused on parenting, it would have been more rounded with the daughters perspective, but what is here is beautifully written and heart rending.

Many thanks to NetGalley for my free review copy of this title.

This book wasn't really what I was expecting from the blurb. I had no idea that this was about a couple that was "happily married" for over 40 years. I expected more something along the lines of young or middle-aged couple with relationship problems than a family drama.
I can see why many people adore this book, but I found the ending too convenient, the story overly dramatic and it simply didn't resonate with me.

*SPOILER ALERT*
We're basically dealing with Frank, who's a quiet and selfish guy obsessed with his wife Maggie and Maggie craves for a family she never had, living through a miscarriage and ending up depressed and obsessed with her daughter.
Both of them start hiding important things about their daughter and from what I read, both of them say repeatedly how happy and great their marriage is, but they have serious communication problems.
I just couldn't relate to their behavior at all. They didn't speak about their finances properly (if they can afford this particular house or when Maggie wants to be a stay-at-home-mum) nor about their daughter's issues. I do believe that there are families out there that might be like this, but I simply cannot relate as it is unfathomable to me, not to speak to my partner openly about all those incredibly important topics.

That's 2 coffee cups out of 5 for me and the book is available now.

Thank you Random House UK Cornerstone and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC.

This is a very skilled, well-written debut which offers a measured, paced insight into the unravelling of a marriage, and what led to six months of silence. Alternating between the two points of view of Frank and Maggie, the reader is immersed in the story of their marriage, slowly working it's way to the present day after the silence.

The writing is beautiful, with extremely detailed and well-wrought description. It's not a fast paced novel, but it deserves the time you give.

I loved this book! Abbie Greaves set up the story so brilliantly that I was immediately drawn into the narrative and rooting for Frank and Maggie.
I love how this book was set out, giving us Frank and Maggies point of view made for a much more complex and enjoyable read. As well as this, I loved how we were fed the reasons why Maggie and Frank stopped talking in dribs and drabs, it made me so much more invested in the story that I couldn't put it down. I finished it in 24 hours!

I can''t wait to read more by Abbie Greaves, this book was a stunning debut.

This is the story of a couple who have lost their way and haven't spoken in six months. It starts with a tragic incident which we don't get much information about and then develops through the husband sharing their history with glimpses of the present thrown in.

To be honest I found this book a little slow paced. I absolutely love the idea but I just felt it a bit of a chore to get through even though I love books with older people as the main characters!

This book is mesmerising. The events crashing from one page to another. Times of highs and lows, joy and destruction. A love story with a tragic ending, or is it?
I felt so many emotions for this couple, and the life that unfolded.

I throughly enjoyed this book, although at first I wasn’t sure I soon got into it and settled down. I read this extremely quickly as I kept on reading wanting to know how things where going to turn out. This was a different kind of book for me and it made a lovely change to read something.
My thanks NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Frank hasn't spoken to his wife Maggie for six months.
For weeks they have lived under the same roof, slept in the same bed and eaten at the same table – all without words.
Maggie has plenty of ideas as to why her husband has gone quiet, but it will take another heartbreaking turn of events before Frank finally starts to unravel the secrets that have silenced him.
Is this where their story ends?
Or is it where it begins?

Firstly, I was so lucky to meet the wonderful Abbie, who was so lovely. She spoke with such passion about this novel and I couldn’t wait to pick this book up

This book is an unique, moving, heartfelt and unforgettable debut. The characters in the book are so real that you feel you are part of the journey with them. It is a thought provoking novel and had me questioning what I would have done in the circumstances.

It is a beautiful and absorbing novel and is highly recommended 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Frank and Maggie haven't spoken for six months - despite being married, living in the same house, eating at the same table and sharing the same bed. When Maggie ends up in hospital in a coma, Frank realises he now has to come clean about why he's been silent for so long, as it may be his last chance to tell her.

Written from both points of view, The Silent Treatment is an emotional exploration of a marriage on the edge of breaking down. Despite it breaking my heart, I couldn't stop myself from reading on as the mystery of why they aren't speaking unravels further. Beautifully written, this novel highlights the importance of communication and is a powerful book about the dangers of leaving things unsaid.

I don’t really know how to review this book. I guessed quite early on what had happened to cause the silence, I guessed what would be the outcome but something kept drawing me on to finish the book. It is a well written, well constructed story with very real characters. Parts of the story had me almost in tears as I felt for Maggie and Frank. A very good debut.

This was such a heartwarming, and also heartbreaking read.

It follows the story of a married couple, Frank and Maggie, seemingly going about their normal day, the book jumps right in to Maggie preparing the evening meal for her and Frank, it then takes a bit more of a sinister turn, when Maggie just sits down at the kitchen table and starts emptying multiple packets of sleeping pills to take. Frank is unaware of what his wife is doing, and he is upstairs playing solitaire on his computer.

You see, even though Maggie and Frank have been happily married for 40 years, for the last 6 months, they haven't spoken to each other, at all!

When the smoke alarm goes off and doesn't stop, Frank goes to investigate, and finds Maggie slumped in her chair, with the packets of pills beside her.
After being rushed to hospital she is placed into a medically induced coma, and Frank is told that she might not pull through and that he should encourage her to wake up by talking to her.

But what do you say to someone that you haven't spoken to for 6 months?

And so Frank begins to tell Maggie the story of them, how they met, and all that has happened in between, but can he eventually tell her why they stopped taking?

We see Maggie and Frank through both of their eyes, and the story they tell is so beautiful, and heartbreaking, and so cleverly written, I was genuinely invested in their marriage.

Please grab this one when you can, you will not be disappointed!

I didn't know what to expect from this book but I was pleasantly surprised by the end! Told in two parts, Frank goes first; he hasn't spoken to his wife for 6 months because he has a secret he can't tell her. But now she's lying in a coma and he needs to confess. The second part of the book is Maggie's turn to confess-we discover she too has secrets. The two stories mirror each other to build a picture of this couple and their life. With a strong focus on the relationship between husband and wife, and parent and child, this was a relatively quick read but an important message about trust and communication.

I absolutely adored this book. It's so well written with beautiful characters that really come to life. The story of Maggie and Frank throughout the years and their difficulties with infertility and parenting, and the effect that had on their relationship is just glorious.

This was a very emotional book that was well written. It's quite heartbreaking but very real, with beautiful prose.

I'd recommend it if you're looking for these features.

Thanks a lot to NG and the publisher for this copy.

I enjoyed reading this, well written, and it's an emotional experience indeed, gave me all the feels. Will definitely recommend the title.

I loved this book. It slowly unfurled into a lovely story of love at different levels. It's not only about the relationship between Maggie and her husband Frank but their relationship, together and separately, with their daughter Eleanor. It starts with the silence of the title, Maggie and Frank not talking for six months and what follows is to explain the reason why. I really became engrossed in the story and all of the characters, their good points and also their flaws. There are happy parts and instances of sadness too but overall, it is simply a really lovely book that I thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you Netgalley for letting me read and re view this book.

Love and forgiveness. Heart breaking novel full of insight into the human condition. You can try to be the perfect parents but circumstances can intervene. Maggie and Frank an adorable and devoted couple, make the best of their childless marriage. They appear content but Maggie still longs for a child. After many years she finds herself pregnant, they have a daughter Eleanor, who in their eyes is ideal child. Their lives start to fall apart as Eleanor rebels. Written from both points of view, can Maggie and Frank resolve their conflicts?.